The government of Trinidad and Tobago could save up to $800 million through a new plan to incorporate Early Childhood Care centres in primary schools.
Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh spoke about the plan Monday at a news conference at his ministry. He said there are 200 such schools that are under-populated and the ministry is looking into using this space as an alternative to building the pre-school centres.
Government is considering starting early childhood education programmes in those schools, he said as it moves towards universal early childhood education.
The minister noted that about 34,000 children between the ages of three and five who are eligible for the early childhood system based on the current birth rate.
He said the more than 200 primary schools that have surplus space would provide the facilities for the centres.
"We will now incorporate in those primary schools many of which are run by denominational boards to introduce early childhood education in those schools by improving their infrastructure, providing teachers and material in those primary schools," Gopeesingh said.
"That will take care about 12,000 children in our thrust for universal early children education. That leaves another 10,000 children out still.
"We will be working with the private sector who have nurseries and kindergartens surrounding their homes and where some parents pay for their children to go, we will have a public sector private sector partnership where will have to bring in another 200 of those early education childhood centres," he said.
Gopeesingh also gave details about the Government's plan to have a Continuous Assessment Programme (CAP) for primary school children.
He said the initiative is geared at "reducing the stress" children and parents face when with respect to the Secondary Entrance Examination (SEA).
"The system of continuous assessment is used in secondary schools and universities, this will reduce the amount of stress that we have been putting on the parents and the children because they will be doing things they will want to do," he said.
The CAP is currently being reviewed by several stakeholders, including the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).
"We expect that the first review will take place by the end of February, we will use March for our internal evaluation and we will go on for a second review and consultation for another two month period and expect that the full recommendations from the public will be completed by the end of May," he said.
He also announced that the SEA exam will be held in May, starting in 2012.
Gopeesingh also gave details about the Government's plan to have a Continuous Assessment Programme (CAP) for primary school children.
He said the initiative is geared at "reducing the stress" children and parents face when with respect to the Secondary Entrance Examination (SEA).
"The system of continuous assessment is used in secondary schools and universities, this will reduce the amount of stress that we have been putting on the parents and the children because they will be doing things they will want to do," he said.
The CAP is currently being reviewed by several stakeholders, including the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) and the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).
"We expect that the first review will take place by the end of February, we will use March for our internal evaluation and we will go on for a second review and consultation for another two month period and expect that the full recommendations from the public will be completed by the end of May," he said.
He also announced that the SEA exam will be held in May, starting in 2012.
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